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Summary for: Prague opens Dvorecký Bridge with free ferries, vintage buses, and rare double-decker ridesCommuters in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region will be treated to free ferry rides and vintage bus trips this Friday as the Czech capital joins the inaugural World Public Transport Day. The global initiative, launched by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), aims to highlight the role of transit in urban sustainability.
Prague Integrated Transport (PID) has organized a split program to reach both regional commuters and city residents.
The celebrations begin early Friday morning at five key hubs in Central Bohemia, Slaný, Mělník, Kostelec nad Černými lesy, Lysá nad Labem, and Mníšek pod Brdy, where officials will greet passengers with small refreshments and travel information between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
“Public transport is the backbone of our cities,” a PID representative in a press announcement. “This day is about celebrating the professionals who keep the city moving and the passengers who choose a greener way to travel.”
Prague festivities focus on bridge opening
In the afternoon, the focus shifts to Prague’s riverside. To coincide with the festivities, the city is celebratingn the newly completed Dvorecký Bridge, which will see its inaugural opening on Friday, connecting the Smíchov and Podolí districts.
Between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., two ferry lines will operate free of charge between the Lihovar and Žluté lázně piers, offering passengers a unique view of the new infrastructure.
Fans of transport history can board heritage vehicles on a special route between Smíchovské nádraží and Nádraží Braník.
Iconic Ikarus 280 articulated buses and Škoda 706 RTO models will run at 10-to-15-minute intervals from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. On the rails, passengers can compare the past and future, with both the historic "Singrovka" motor car and the modern "RegioFox" units running special routes through the city.
Hop on a double-decker
The festivities also include a special nod to international transit history in Prague 6. A yellow Berlin double-decker bus, a frequent sight during the city’s "Retro-linka" events, will return to the streets of Dejvice and Bubeneč.
The iconic vehicle is scheduled to run on a special loop connecting Vítězné náměstí and the technical museums, allowing locals to experience the "Berlin-style" commute in the heart of the Czech capital.
The event comes as Prague continues to modernize its network. Earlier this week, city officials approved plans for new battery-powered trains to serve the "Posázavský Pacifik" line, part of a broader effort to phase out diesel engines.
PID staff will also be available at a mobile "PID Point" in Braník throughout the afternoon to assist with Lítačka card registrations and explain recent tariff changes.
Detailed timetables for the historic vehicles and the day's full program are available on the official PID website.
